Button



I. D. FORD Dec. 30, .1930.

BUTTON Filed Sept. 18, 1929 Ina D. roan, or ROSELAND,

I with the strength Patented pa. 30,1930

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENING KIOH'IGAJN' ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO & BUTTON COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

UNIVERSAL BUTTON A CORPORATION OF BUTTON Application filed September 18, 1929. Serial No. 393,329.

This invention relates to metal buttons and aims to rovide an improved sheet metal button com ining the neat and substantial appearance of the composition or solid button and economy of manufacture of the sheet metal button. The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative button embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the button, the section being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the button taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1.

Metal buttons have been largely used where utilitarian considerations, such as .those I t where strength, uniformity, and ease of attachment, were controlling. The appearance of the typical metal button used-on worklngmens clothing, et' cetera, has interfered w1th the more extensive use of the metal button. The illustrative button while being made of very thin sheet metal (.010 to .012 inches thick) is shaped in such form that 1t glyes the substantial appearance and decorative effectof the composition or pearl button, used on childrens clothing and knitted wear, for example, and yet is of such form that 1t may be satisfactorily subjected to all the usual finishing treatments for metal buttons, such as cleaning, plating,'et cetera. Its 11 n 1 formity makes its attachment by automatic machinery vastly more satisfactory than with pearl or bone buttons wheremthe 1nevitahle though slight irregularities 1n position of eyes, for example, frequently cause needle breakage. Deviation of whatever character, from uniformity makes attachment by automatic machinery unsatisfactory. The illustrative metal button may be made with absolute uniformity.

Metal is an ideal material for buttons not only because of its strength and because it lends itself to the automatic production of uniform buttons, but

adapted for decoration than pearl or comgenerally elliptical it is much better h position buttons. The metal is adapted to receive not only a variety of metal plating-s but may be given almost any desired color by enamel or other coating. As contrasted with composition buttons, for example, the eventual color or finish of the button is wholly superficial,the basic material and process of manufacture being the sameregardless of eventual color or finis he invention is here embodied in a socalled fish-eye button which is characterized by a convex or rounded top surface 10 which stantially into contact, at the edge button, with the cloth to which it is attached. The button thus gives the appearance of lying closely against or hugging the cloth. The central portion of the utton is recessed as at 12 (two in the present case) and to reinforce he convex button top, the recess providing a depressed area in which the attaching thread may be protected from contact with wearing surfaces. The depression 11 is of shape with flaring side walls 13, the latter, in merging with the convex face of the button, produces a pointed el- 11 for thread holes liptical outline 14 Whlch causes the button as cleaning solutions or platmg acids which may enter during the cleaning or plating operations. Any such liquids ifretained in the button would obviously be liable to cause damage to the button or to the cloth to which tiie hbutton was attached or to discolor the c ot The metal displaced to form the thread oles 11 is advantageousl curled underneath the button as at 19 and attened against the button to provide rounded edges 20 for the thread and to reinforce the button in the region of the thread holes.

The design of the button is such as to permit the use of thin sheet metal, the button here illustrated being made from metal from .010 to .012 inches thick. The metal may be sheetaluminum appropriate-tor die forming operations. The thinness of the sheet metal not only reduces the cost of the but ton (Without resulting in the flimsy appearance which would characterize the ordinary sheet metal button) but it permits of easy and simple forming operations. For example, there is no tendency of the metal to split or crack at the edge 17, because (owing to its thinness) excessive stresses are not developed in the die forming operations.

After forming the buttons, they are cleaned to remove the oil or grease customarily placed on the sheet metal to lubricate and reduce wear on the dies. Thereafter they are fin ished in any appropriate manner such as by coating or plating.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative button since these may be variously modified.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

As an article of manufacture a sew-on button made of thin ductile sheet metal shaped to provide a substantially spherical upper surface which extends downwardly to the edge of the button, the curvature of said spherical surface being sufficient to provide a button of substantial depth so as to simulate a thick solid button, the margins of metal at the edge of the button being curled beneath the button, and an elliptical depression in the top of the button the bottom of which depression lies within the plane of the curled edge of said button thereby permitting the edge of said button to hug the cloth to which it is attached, said depression having thread holes in the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

lit-A D. FQRD. 

